Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Judith Bingham was for several years a member of the BBC Singers and before that the Symphony Chorus, so it is unsurprising that choral music makes up a significant part of her output and this budget-priced CD offers an excellent introduction to her work. "Salt In The Blood" is a nautical ghost story which brings to mind Gavin Bryars' 'The Sinking Of The Titanic'. In "The Darkness Is No Darkness" Bingham takes S S Wesley's old favourite "Thou Wilt Keep Him In Perfect Peace" and uses it as a basis for a new piece that segues back to Wesley's original and in the process sheds new light on the familiar harmonies as well as allowing the soloists Robina Redgard-Siler (soprano) and Chris Jackson (tenor) to shine. "First Light" gives a mystical poem on the Incarnation by Martin Shaw a suitable setting and "The Secret Garden", a 2004 Proms Commission, was inspired by the Masaccio fresco of Adam and Eve and its exploration of shame. So an interesting set of pieces with some very good singing and outstanding brass playing by the excellent Fine Arts Brass. Those with an interest in contemporary choral music will enjoy this release that shows why Judith Bingham won the British Composer Award for choral music in 2006.

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